Bag-feeding mechanism.



G. W. GWINN.

BAG FEEDING MBCHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED Emma, 1912.

LWAQ Patented June 23, 191.4u

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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G. W. GWINN.

BAG FBEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 121313.13, 1912.

LLQ@ Patented June 23, 1914.

9 SEEETSSHBET 2.

G. W. GWINN.

BAG FEEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION IILILD 213.13. 1912.

Patented June 23, 1914 9 sHBETssHEBT a.

SI WJTNESES L @gw IVI/EIVTOR G. W. GWI-NN.

BAG FBEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13. 1912.

Patenteaune 2s, 1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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WHWESSES few l G. W. GWINN. BAG PBEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.13, 1912.

' Patented June 23, 191% :mmpwo l 9 SHEETS-SHEET 5. l

WTNESSES G. W. GWINN. BAG FEEDING MEGHANISM. APPLICATION HLBD 1123.13,1912.

Patente-ad June 23, 1914.

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9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

G. W. GW'INN. BAG PEEDING MEGHANI'SM.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJS, 1912.

Patented June 23, 1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

v, NVENTOR'.

W/IWESSES wwf/MW- G. W. GWINN.

BAG FBEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED Emma. 1912.

Patented June 23, 1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

i ana Form I 5 S m N H WI G. W. GVVINN.

BAG FEEDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.13.1912,

Patented June 23, 1914.

LMMAQ,

9 SHEETSSHBET 9.

wWil Uli .l/rV/L nllllllihs M like.

UNITED scrapes PATENT Ormea.

GEORGE W. GWINN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB T0 AUTOI'ATIC PACKINGLABELING COIPANY, 0F DURHAM, NORTH CIOLINA,

NORTH CAROLINA.

A MEDIATION OF BAG-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23,1914.

Application llled February 13, 191B. Serial 11o. 677,350.

citizen of the United States, residing at 1 New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bag-Feeding Mechanisms, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention pertains to an improved bag-feeding mechanism,adapted more particularly for use in conjunction with automatic packingmachines and the In automatic packing machinery as now commonlyconstructed and used, it is customary to place the bags upon thebagholders by hand, thus entailing the expense of one or more.attendants, generally unskilled and who, by reason of being unskilful,mutilate or destroy a number of bags and also fail sometimes for onecause or another to properly position a bag upon the holder.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a mechanism whichwill automatically withdraw the bags, one at a time, 'from a bag-runwayor stacker, open up such bag and present the same to the bag-form orholder of the packing machine. By thus handling the bags, the packingmachine may be operated at a higher speed thanwhen the bags arehand-placed and, furthermore,

there is greater certainty in operation, and with (usually) lessexpense.

The machine may be said, in general terms, to embody the followingparts, op-

erating to bring about the desired result:

turn grasps it and while still maintaining it open, carries it to the.bag-holder or form y llVorking in cony of the packing machine. junctionwith the bags in the runway 1s means for straightening up the bags, thatlf is, bringing them to a vertical position, and l only a, fragmentaryportlon thereof is 1lluslikewise means for temporarily relieving theforward bags, vadjacent the discharge endr lation of the two structures.

from pressure, so that the outermost bag may be readily withdrawnwithout being subjected to undue strain.-

A. structure illustrating one embodiment of the invention is shown inthe annexed drawings, wherein: t Figure l is a side elevation, partly insectlon, the parts bein in that position'v in which a bag just wit drawnfrom the run-- Way has been grasped by' the bag-carrier, and thebag-Withdrawer elevated; Fig. 2 a top vplanyview, the ba -withdrawerbeing broken away in part; iig. 3 a vertical longitudmal sectional view,taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, the bags being omitted from therunway, with the bag in the carrier or transferrer shown in section;Fig. 4 a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;Fig. 5 a perspective view of the bag straightener and pressure relievingmechanism; Fig. 6` a similar View of the bagremover or withdrawer; Fi 7a horizontal sectional view, taken on t e 4line 7-7 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 avertical sectional view, on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9, the bag-removerbeing shown as descending and the bag-carrier in the act of carrying thepreviously-removed b'a-g to a position where it may be taken by thebag-holder or shape of the packing machine; Fig. 9 a horizontalsectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8, the

parts being in the same relative position as 10; Fig. 12 a diagram orchart of the various cams;l Fig. I3 a vertical sectional view on -theline 13-13 of Fig. 14; and Fig. 14 a horizontal sectional view on asomewhat smaller scale, the parts being in thev same position as in Fig.13, and the carrier turret lock and the cams for opening and closing thecarriers being shown.

The ymechanism as a whole is designed to operate in conjunction with apacking machine and will preferably be operated from the same source ofpower as that which operates the packer, or from a moving part of thepacker, but inasmuch as the packer per se forms no part of the presentinvention ",rated, just suilicient -to bring out the correi 11 asectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig.

In the drawings, 1 denotes a table or other fixed support, Figs. 2 and4, and 2 a shaft extending up above the table and carrying aspider-frame 3, upon which are supported the bag-forms or holders 4.Said shaft is adapted t0 be raised and lowered through suitablemechanism, and to be rotated step by step through gears 5 and 6. Theseparts belong to the packing machine and no further description orshowing seems essential.

Secured to one edge of the table is a horizontal platform 7, best shownin Fig. 10, the connection being effected through a bracket S bolted tothe table 1. Mounted upon the vdatform is a bag magazine or runway,comrising a base 9, and two vertically-disposed sides 1() and 1l, cachpreferably lined with a planishcd metallic plate, as 12. The runway isopen at its rear end, the forward end being partially closed by twoverticallydisposed plates or lips13 and 14, forming a restricted mouth,somewhat narrower than the width of the bags; designated by 15.

To press the bags forward in the runway toward the mouth, twopresser-plates are employed, the two being alike in construction andoperation; consequently, a description of one will Suiiice, thecorresponding parts being similarly lettered with the addition of theexponent a.

Extending upwardly and outwardly from the side wall 11 is a bracket 16,to which is secured a horizontally-disposed rail 17, having mountedthereon a slide 18, to the upper'edge of which is pivoted to swing in avertical direction a push-plate 19, having a handle 20, see Fig. 10. Toa lug 21, extending out from tlle slide there is secured a cord or cable22, which extends forward up and over a pulley 23, carried by a bracket24 secured to rail 17, said cord thence passing rearwardly over a pulley25 and having a Weight 26 secured thereto. The tendency of the weights26 and 26a is to draw the slides 18 and 18 forward and consequently7 topush the bags toward the discharge end of the runway. The purpose ofhaving two push-plates is to insure a proper feed of the bags, for whileone plate is acting the attendant maybe iilling the runway between theforward active plate and the rear plate, and thereafter as the bagsbecome depleted forward of the forward plate, swing said plate upwardlyand move it and its slide rearwardly, permitting the other slide tobecome in effect the forward slide. By arranging the slides uponopposite sides of the runway either one may be. withdrawn from operativerelation with the bags and moved rearwardlv independently of the other.

The bags are withdrawn from the runway one at a time and the meansprovided for doing this comprises a plunger, See Figs. 4 and 6, having arelatively sharp lower end 27, a fiat rear face 28, and a forwardoutwardly-incliued face 29. In other-words, the plunger increases insize upwardly from the lower sharp edge, the enlargement extendingforwardly from the rear vertical face. The plunger is secured to an arm30, which in turn is secured to the upper end of a slide 31, which ismovable through a swinging guide 32, pivoted at its upper end to theupper end of a fixed bracket or post 33. An oscillating movement isimparted to the guide 32 through an arm 34 fixed to the lower end therof to which in turn there is pivotally connected a link 0r rod 35, seeFigs. 7 and 13, the rear end of the rod being plvotally connected to theupper end of a rocker arm 36. Said rocker arm is fulcrumed upon a shaft37 carried by depending arms 38 and 39, see Fig. 10. The lower end ofthe rocker arm 36 carries a bowl 40 which works in a cam groove 41,formed in one face of a Cam member 42 splined to and rotatable with adriven shaft 43.

To effect a, reciprocation of the slide 31, through the s'lideway, thereis secured to the lower end of the slide a link 44 which in turn ispivoted to the forward end of a relatively long arm 45 which extendsforward from a collar or sleeve 46, fulcrumed on shaft 37. An arm 47extends downwardly from collar 46, carrying at its lower end a bowl 47adapted to work in a cam groove 48. This mechanism imparts to thebag-withdrawing plunger a compound vertical. and swinging movement, thelower end of the plunger swinging rearward when it is fully elevated,see Figs. 1 and 3, until it comes to a vertical position, Fig. 8, whenit descends and passes downwardly into the bag, Fig. 13.

` Owing to the shape of the cam 41 during this downwardmovement noswinging motion of the guide 32, and consequently of A the plunger,takes place; so, too, when the v plunger reaches its limit of downwardmovement cam 48 becomes for the time being inlactive and at the sametime, through the laction of cam 41,-a. forward movement of lthe plungerta-kes place, and said plunger being in a bag draws the same outwardly ifrom the runway (Fig. 13) between the lips 13 and 14. The plungercarries the bag forward to a bag-carrier or transfer mechanism, where itis grasped and while so held 'the plunger is withdrawn therefrom, mov- Ling upwardly from the dotted-line position .shown in Fig. 13 to theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The upper edge of the forward face of the bag will preferably besomewhat lower than the opposite side, see Fig. 4, so that the plungerwhen it is thrown rearwardly preparar n tory to the descent thereof willclear the forward bag face and come into contact with the inner side ofthe rea-r face, or the bag liner, if a double-walled or lined bag beemployed. Thus the plunger, owing to its position, and to the forwardwedge-shaped face thereof, will always enter the bag and this withoutdamage thereto. To push downwardly the bag or bags standing immediatelybehind the one beingl withdrawn, I secure to the rear face of t eplunger a push-plate 49, see Fig. 6, which contacts with such bags andserves. to push the same downwardly so that they will stand on thebottom of the runway and be in position to properly function with theplunger as it acts to successively withdraw the same. To relieve thebags momentarily from ressure as the outermost one is being wit drawnfrom the runway, and to also straighten up the bags or cause. them tostand vertically in the runway as they approach the lunger, so that thelatter may properly nction with the same, suitable` automatic mechanismis employed.

Mounted in suitable guideways 50, 51, carried by the underside of theplatform 7, see Fig. 10, is a slide 52, said slide being reciprocatedthrough the agency of a link 53, connected to lugs 54 extending downfrom the rear end of the slide, the opposite end of` the link beingconnected to the upper'end of a rocker-arm 55, fulcrumed upon shaft 37,the lower end of the rocker arm carrying a bowl 56, which works in a camgroove 57.

The forward end of the slide is provided with a centrally-disposed slot5,8, see Fig. 7 and also with two laterally projecting wlngs or lugs 59and 60. Pivoted to the under face of lug 59 (see Fig. 5) is alever 61 ofthe first order, while pivoted to the wing or lug 60 is a second lever62 of the same order. The inner ends of said levers overlap and arepin-jointed, one being slotted so that they may swing past a linepassing through their pivotal points; in other words, they form a togglewhich may be thrown to one or the other side of the center line.Extending through and pinned to a hub 63 formed on the outer free end oflever 61 is a vertically-disposed rod 64, and pinned to the rod is aframe or casting 65, the vertically-disposed member of which carries twobeveledor tapering fingers 66 and 67. A second frame 68 is pivotallysupported on rod 64, said frame being vprovided with a single beveledlinger 69 at its upper end. A spring 70 tends to rotate frame 68 andconsequently to throw finger 69 inwardly, such inward movement beinglimited by a stop lug 71, carried by a hub 72 pinned to rod 64. vSimilarparts are carried by or supported upon the outer endv of lever 62, theparts being similarly lettered with the addition of the exponent a.

The lower ends of the rods 64 and 64a are connected by a coiled spring73 which acts to hold the levers 61 and 62 in one or the other of thetwo positions to which they may be moved; or, in other words, to holdthe 'toggle formed by said levers to one or the other side of the centerline of the toggle. The shifting of the levers is brought about by themovement of the slide 52, carrying the levers into contact first withone and then with the other of two pins 74 and 7 5, best shown in Figs.3 and 13, which extend down from the under face of platform 7.

Cam 57 is so formed and timed that after a bag has been withdrawn by theplunger the fingers will stand in the position shown in Fig. 14, thatis, entirely withdrawn, at which time slide 52 is moving rearwardly andthe toggle has come into contact with pin 75, andA has been straightenedand is about to be thrown forward by spring 73. As the toggle is movingto its center line or straightened position, frames 65 and 65a are swungoutwardly so as to withdraw the fingers 66 and 67 and 66 and 67a frombetween the bags,I and when the parts `reach the positions shown in Fig.14 the push-plate will act to force the bags in the runway forwardlyagainstthe/lips 13 and 14. Upon a further rearward movement of the slidethe toggle will be broken by pin 7 5, and the outer ends -of levers 61and 62 will swing inwardly,

thereby carrying fingers 69 and 69a between the bags at the upperportion or end thereof, see Fig. 2. When the movement of slide 52 isreversed, said fingers, being carried forward to a slight extent whilestill between the bags, have a tendency to push the upper portions ofthe bags forward, or to straighten them up so that the mouth of theoutermost bag will ,be directly against the lips 13 and 14, beneath theplunger. Inasmuch as these fingers are carried by the spring-urgedframes there is no tendency to tear the bags, as the slide movesforward, the fingers swinging outwardly if undue pressure should beexerted. The fact that the lower ends or bottoms of the bags are formedwith folded-over portions, and conse uently present a slightly greaterthickness t an at the top, makes it desirable to employ the mechanismjust set forth. Upon a further forward movement of slide 52, the togglecomes into contact with pin 74, is again broken and the fingers 66 and67 and 66a and 67 a are thrown in between the bags as indicated in Fig.9.

The side walls of the runway are formed with suitable vopenings 76 and77 through which the lower fingers 66 and 66a may pass. At such time theplunger is beginning to descend, and in order to relieve the bag whichis to be withdrawn from undue pressure against lips 13 and 14 andpossible injury, the cam 57 is so timed as to carry the slide 52 andconsequently fingers 66, 66a, 67 -and 67a rearwardly to a slight extent,while still in their inward position. Such movement, as will be readilyappreciated,

lli() takes the pressure of push-plates 19 and 19* gers withdrawn andthe push-plates again` allowed to act to advance the bags along therunway. The same cycle of operations is repeated.

rihe devices or mechanism for transferring the bag from the plunger tothe packing machine will now be described. Se cured to and extendingoutwardly from platform 7 is a bracket 78, in the outer end of which ismounted a vertically-disposed shaft 79, said shaft having splinedthereto, below the bracket a sprocket-wheel 80 and a locking plate 81,provided with peripheral notches 82. The upper part of the shaft hassplined to it a turret or frame having four radially-disposed arms 83,the outer end of each arm carrying two horizontally-arranged,su'bstantially I shaped frames 84 and 85. Each end of each arm of theframe is provided with a hub or boss 86, and parallel,vertically-disposed rods or shafts87 and 88 are mounted in the bosses.To the lower end of shaft 87 is secured a lever 89, and also a notchedarm or jaw 90. A lever 91 is secured to the lower end of shaft 88, theends of said lever and lever 89 overlapping and being connected to eachother by a machine screw 92, which passes upwardly through an elongatedslot in lever 89 and is screwed into lever 91. A roller 93 is carried atthe lower end of the screw. Shaft 88, adjacent to its lower end, hasalso secured to it a notched arm or jaw 94. Similar arms or jaws 95 and96 are, respectively, connected to the upper ends of shafts 87 and 88,and each shaft has wound about the same a coiled spring 97, said springbeing secured at one end to the shaft and at its opposite end to theframe. Said springs tend to rotate the shafts in such direction as toclose the jaws, or in other words to cause them to approach each other.A stop arm 98, formed as an extension of the jaw 95, Fig. 2, coacts witha screw 99, mounted in a lug 100, extending upwardly from arm 83, andacts to limit the approach of the jaws.

Shaft 79,-and consequently arms 83, are rotated by means of asprocket-chain 101, which passes about sprocket 80 and a sprocket 102,Fig. 4, vsecured to shaft 2, and inasmuch as shaft 2 is'given astepby-step rotation, shaft 79 and the parts carried thereby arelikewise given such motion. Sleeved for oscillation upon the hub of theframe which carries the arms 83 is a casting comprising a sleeve 102,Figs. 3 and 14, and three arms 103, 104 and 105. Arms 103 and 104 areseparated a distance slightly greater than 90, and the former isprovided with an adjustable cam or striker 106, while the latter isprovided with a similar member 107. Said members stand in the path ofthe rollers 93 and serve to open the jaws when the parts come into line,as at the right in Fig. 14, and at the top, as in Figs. 2 and 7. Theseparts may be termed the jaw-actuat ing or openin mechanism, and tooperate the same, that 1s, to oscillate it so as to cause it to open oneset of jaws and'then another set, there is secured to the outer end ofarm 105 a link or draw-rod 108, the opposite end of which is connectedto the upper end of an arm 109, secured to shaft 37. Motion isimpartedto said shaft through an arm or lever 110, secured at one end to theshaft, the opposite end carrying a bowl which works in a cam groove 111.

It is designed that the bag-grasping jaws shall-come to rest one set ata time in line with the discharge end of the bag runway and the plungerso as to be in position to grasp the bag which is on the plunger, and toinsure the retention of the jaws in such position I provide a lockingpawl- 112, fulcrumed upon bracket 78 and actuated by a bar or rod 113,pivoted thereto and to the lower member of rocker arm 55. The parts areso timed that as one set of bag-grasping jaws 90, 94, 95 and 96 comesinto juxtaposition with the plunger, the pawl will enter one of thenotches 82 of the locking plate 81. At such time cam 107 will be broughtto the position shown in F ig. 14 and the jaws opened. When a bag hasbeen withdrawn by the plunger and lswung` forwardly, the cam is movedaway in a clockwise direction. thereby permitting the jaws to closeunder the action of springs 97, and grasp the then distended bag by itsopposite edges. The plunger then ascends from the bag and when fullyelevated the pawl is withdrawn from the locking plate and the bag, stillheld in its distended position, is carried around to a point beneath thevbag form or holder 4. Said holder then descends and when within the bagthe jaws are opened and moved away from the bag by the cam 106, which isthen brought to vsuch position as to open the jaws. The bag is thusplaced upon the holder or bag-form and being released from the jawstends to close upon said holder, or, if preferred, the holder may beexpanded as is usual in machinery of this class. The bag-holder thenmoves upwardly and the jaws are then free to be turned another step'forwardly.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation of the machine issufficiently clear, it beingunderstood, however, in so far as thegeneric invention is concerned, that the structure may be modified inmany of its parts and details, and that the broader claims are to beread in such light. For

thecombination of a runway for the bags;

means for withdrawing the same therefrom one at a `time; means forrelieving the bag4 being withdrawn from the ressure of the followingbags; and means independent of said relievi 0' means for throwing theopenv ends of the b gs forwardly toward the front end of the runway.- l

2. In a machine of the character specified',

the combination of a runway for the bags;

means urging the bags forwardly in the run-l.

way toward the discharge end thereof; means for withdrawing the bags oneby one; means acting as a bag is being withdrawn to move the other bagsrearwardlyl in the runway; and means for throwing the open endsof thebags forwardly toward the discharge end of the runway.

the combination of a runway for the bags; means for advancing the samealong the runway; means for withdrawin the same therefrom one at a time;means or relieving the bags being withdrawn from the pressure of thefollowing bags; and means, independent of the advancing means, forthrowing the open ends of the bags forwardly toward the' front end ofthe runway.

4. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a runwayfor the bags; a pair of pivoted push-plates extending into the runwayand urging the bags forwardly therein toward the discharge end thereof;means for withdrawing the bags one by one. from the runway; swingingfingers adapted to be moved into and out of the runway in rear of the.bag to be removed; means for actuating said fingers; and means fordrawing the fingers rearwardly in line with the runway while they are inengagement with the bags.

` 5. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of arunway for the bags; means urging the bags forwardly inthe runway towardthe discharge end thereof; means for removing the bags one by one;

lfingers arranged upon opposite sides of the runway adjacent thedischarge end; means for imparting an oscillating movement to saidfingers to throw them into and out of the runway; and means for drawingsaid fingers rearwardly while they stand in the runway.

3. In a machine of the character specified,l

6. In a machine of the character specified,

the combination of a runway for thebags.;

means urging the bags forwardly therein; means for removing the bags one-by one;

'fingers arranged upon opposite sides of the runway adjacent thedischarge end thereof;

means for oscillating the fingers to move the i saine into and out ofthe runway; means for drawing the fingers rearwardly While they stand in'the runway in contact with the bags; and other fingers adapted to enterthe runway as the first-named fingers are withdrawn, said other fingerscontacting with the upper portions of the bags and'acting to move saidupper portions forwardly.

.7. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a runwayfor the bags;

means for urging the bags forwardly in the runway; means for removingthe bags one by one; a slide located below the runway;

means for reciprocating said slide; a rod at each side of the runway; aframe secured `to each rod; fingers extending inwardly from each frametoward the runway; a toggle connection between the lower ends of therods, said toggle being carried by the slide; a spring acting to holdthe toggle to one or the other side of its center line: and

fixed pins coperating with the toggle t0 throw the same as the slide isreciprocate'd.

8. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a runwayfor the bags; means for urging the bags forwardly in the runway; meansfor removing the bags one by one; a slide located below the runway;means for reciprocating said slide; a rod at each side of the runway: aframe secured to each rod;'fingers extending inwardlyfro-m -each frametoward the runway; a toggle connection between the lower ends of therods, said toggle being carried by the slide; a spring acting to holdthe toggle to one or the other side of its center line; fixed pinscooperating with the toggle to throw the same as the slide isreciprocated; a second frame pivoted on each rod; a finger extending inlwardly from the upper portion thereof; a spring for each frame tendingto draw the saine inwardly toward the runway; and a stop lug secured toeach rod, acting to swing the adjacent pivoted frame outwardly.

9. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a runwayfor the bags; a plunger having a downward movement at the month of therunway and adapted to enter and remove the outermost bag; and means,positively movable toward and from the runway, for pushing the bagsimmediately in rear of the plunger downwardly into the runway toproperly position the same.

10. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a runwayfor the bags, means acting to push the bags for- .wardly therein meansfor removing the bags one at a time from the runway; means fortemporarily relieving the bags at the forward endof the runway frompressure; and means acting while the pressure is thus relieved forpushing such bags downwardly into their proper position in the runway.

11'. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of arunway for the bags; a plunger adapted to move downwardly into theoutermost bag and to remove the same from the runway; and a push-platecarried by the rear face of the plunger, adapted to strike the upperends of the bags immediately in rear of the plunger when the same ismoved downwardly.

12. In a machine of the character specitied, the combination of a runwayfor the bags; a plunger movable downwardly in line with the outermostbag in the runway; means for moving the plunger outwardly from therunway with a bag thereon; and a bag-transferring mechanism, comprisinga plurality of bag-grasping devices adapted t be successively broughtinto operative relation with the bagsn the plunger.

13. In amachine of the character specified, the combination of a runwayfor the bags; a plunger adapted to remove the bags one at a time fromthe runway; means for moving the plunger downwardly into the outermost'bag and then outwardly away from the runway; a bag-transferringmechanism, comprising a rotatable member, and a plurality ofbag-grasping devices carried by said member, each grasping devicecompris- 'ing a plurality of normally-closed jaws;

means for rotating said vmechanism ste by step; and means for openingthe jaws o one devlce as it comes into position to grasp the bag held bythe plunger, and to likewise open the jaws of the device which hasvlously grasped a bag and to releasethe bag held thereby. l

14.' In a machine of the character specilied, the combination of arunwayfor the bags; a plunger adapted to remove the bags one at a time fromthe runway; means for moving the plunger downwardlyI into the outermostbag ,and then outwardly away from the runway; a bag-transferringmechanlsm, comprising a rotatable member, and a plurality of graspingdevices carried thereby, each device comprising oppositely-disposedswinging jaws', and means for normally moving the jaws toward eachother; means for moving said mechanism step by step; and a pair of camsto successively open the jaws of two of said grasping devices, wherebythe device which comes into operative relation with the bag-transferringmeans will be first opened, and then closed, and the device which hasalready grasped a bag will likewise be opened.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. GWINN. Witnesses:

R. LPA'rrERsoN, M. M. WHEDBEE.

